6 Dress Shopping Faux Pas that Are Holding You Back

Your
wedding dress is arguably one of the most important dresses you’ll purchase in
your life. It can be overwhelming indeed to imagine that for one whole day, all
eyes are on YOU. Not to mention that it will be quite a hefty investment, so “just
winging it” is not an option.

It’s
a feat that’s not for the fainthearted, but we are here to help you avoid some
common pitfalls in your dress-hunting journey.

1. Haste Makes
Waste

We totally get that
rush from ticking items off your wedding checklist, with each small victory
bringing you one step closer to the best day of your life. When it comes to
shopping for your dress though, hasty decisions might just send you back to
square one. You need serious insight about the other elements of your wedding
first before buying THE dress.

Consider the season.
It may seem obvious enough but some brides still
forget the very important factor of season and weather when it comes to dress
choice. A flowy number may be perfect for a summertime affair, while a winter
or autumn celebration will call for a more covered-up ensemble. If you are
doing a destination wedding, remember to check the seasons in that part of the
globe too.

Consider the venue. Knowing your venue will help steer you in the right direction when
it comes to picking a dress that won’t leave you feeling uncomfortable
throughout the day. You can have your pick of princess-style dresses with
cathedral-length trains that will remain in pristine condition during a Church
nuptial followed by reception indoors. Meanwhile, you are better off picking something
more lightweight if you will be spending your day outdoors.

When is a good
time to buy? Most made to order dresses will
require a lead-time of four to eight months, depending on the design. A good
time to have your dress made is therefore about eight to ten months in, so that
you have enough time to pick a design that won’t clash with everything else. If
you are having a shorter engagement period though, there is always the option
of purchasing an RTW or ready-to-wear dress off the rack, ideally after
you have confirmed when and where your celebration will be.

2. Falling for the
Daydream Diversion

Imagine, you walk
into a store, slip into a dress that catches your eye, and after the shop
keeper throws on a veil, hair accessories, and a bouquet to boot, you instantly
want to buy everything right then and there. That’s exactly how you pictured
your wedding dress since you were a little girl after all! Why look further,
right? Well it’s not a coincidence that you feel this way. In fact, it is a
pretty effective sales tactic.

Some brides will make
an emotional decision without inspecting the quality of the dress, then realize
the issues later on. To avoid this you need to ask yourself: do you love the
dress itself or it’s just the bells and whistles pulling on your heartstrings?
It will be useful as well if you have someone you trust to be the objective eye
and help you snap out of the daydream. If you feel strongly about the dress,
put it on hold then sleep on it or try it on again on its own before making the
purchase. Later on, the accessories will be easier to put together once you
have committed to a dress. Your taste in accessories might change anyway
throughout your wedding planning process, so you must resist the urge to hoard
them early on.

3. Holding Out for
Your “Bride Bod”

There’s nothing wrong
with setting goals for yourself, and weight loss is no exception. However,
planning a wedding is stressful enough as it is, and the added pressure of
having to lose weight may even cause you to gain some.

In fact, studies done
by Prichard, I., &
Tiggemann, M. in 2009-2014 in Australia revealed that
brides are put under greater pressure to lose weight and therefore become more
fixated about their looks than the average woman. They also found that 46% of
sampled brides-to-be in a wedding exposition were targeting a weight that was
about 20 pounds less than their current weight. In a survey that they conducted
among those wanting to lose weight, only a third experienced weight loss
while another third had no change, and the final third actually gained weight.

Spare yourself the
headache and start off with a size that actually fits you right now. If you
followed our advice and had your dress made eight to ten months prior, your
first fitting will happen three to four months before your big day, leaving an
adequate period for changes. It is easier and less costly to take in a dress a
few inches rather than sizing up.

4. Promo FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)

It’s an all too
familiar situation: discounts that leave you feeling like you’ll miss out on
something you need if you don’t buy it. The FOMO can become much stronger with
such a special and personal purchase as a wedding dress. Stumbling through a
discount on a dress you’ve been eyeing may seem like a rare, heaven-sent
opportunity, but could cost you more in time and money in the end.

We’re not saying that
it’s impossible to get a good deal but you’ll need to be diligent. For
instance, sample sales offer steep discounts as a come-on, but it might come
with considerable wear and tear from being on display. If you’re not careful
you might end up paying the same amount as a regular-priced dress from all the
cleaning and alterations that need to be done.

Designers on wedding
expos will usually advertise an on-the-spot promo to push you to sign a
contract right away. Our advice is to play it cool and register but walk away
if you’re not yet sure. They usually have quotas when joining these events and
will normally extend the offer even after the expo.

5. Too Many Cooks in
the Kitchen

You’ve probably heard
the saying “too many cooks in the kitchen spoils the broth.” Same goes with too
many opinions on your wedding dress choice. We recommend having a maximum of
two people with you when you come for an appointment, so that there’s no way of
a tie when it comes down to tough decisions. Any more than this is too many.

It’s normal for you
to want to bring your whole squad when choosing the dress and live out the
classic chic flick dressing room scene. But chances are, your gals won’t have the
same tastes, body types, and preferences from your own. It may only confuse you
and pressure you into buying a dress THEY would pick for themselves instead of
what looks best on you. Bring someone who truly knows you and is comfortable
enough to voice out if something doesn’t look right.

6. Doing It for
the ‘Gram

We live in an age wherein mundane things like buying a cup of coffee and going to the gym make it online and Instagram-worthy shots are more important than the actual experience. In the same study done by Prichard, I., & Tiggemann, M. among Australian brides-to-be, photos and perceived attractiveness seems to be the most important aspects of the day. Although posterity is important, your wedding is not just about the pictures and trying to meet unrealistic standards. That’s why when it comes to choosing your wedding dress, pick one that works for your body, makes you feel comfortable, and is true to your style – yes you can buy that dress with pockets if you want to! Read about our complete guide to choosing your wedding dress here.

Our final advice:
Once you’ve found the dress, stop looking! You’ll thank us later 😉